Health Hero

Young Mother Remains Hopeful Through Battle WIth Chondrosarcoma

- Mary Toothman

She’s young, beautiful and a mother to two little girls. She’s a registered nurse. She’s a wife. She loves her community, and she loves her church. A brutal, painful, and recurring form of bone cancer is out to get her. But she’s not having it.

CLICHE OR NO, the truth is that the lovely Jessica Burton had it all — a loving husband who’s a partner in every sense of the word, work she loved as a registered nurse, and two little girls who fill her heart with joy every day.

She attended a church she’s dedicated to, went shopping with her girlfriends, dreamed with husband Jacob about future family plans.

But about three and a half years ago, her world changed forever.

She was at her orthopedist’s office for a regular checkup for an ongoing bone disease she’s had since childhood. Called Multiple Hereditary Exostosis, it causes extra growths made of bone and cartilage to form.

This checkup visit did not turn out to be regular at all.

“I was diagnosed with a large chondrosarcoma (cancer) on my right lower pelvis,” she says. “And here I was at my orthopedist office alone.” She was blindsided.

“At first I felt nothing but shock. I immediately called my husband and drove myself home.”

Within two weeks, she had an appointment at Moffitt Cancer Center. There, she learned that this type of cancer usually only responds to surgical removal.

Jessica and Jacob kept their young daughters as informed as was appropriate for their ages. They knew family secrets are not a good idea. Her oldest daughter scribbles notes of encouragement on a white board in her room — so her mother can find them during the day.